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Humic and Fulvic Acids and Their Potential in Crop Production
Humic and Fulvic Acids and Their Potential in Crop Production
1-2013
Andrew W. Lenssen
Iowa State University, alenssen@iastate.edu
Recommended Citation
Wright, David and Lenssen, Andrew W., "Humic and Fulvic Acids and Their Potential in Crop Production" (2013). Agriculture and
Environment Extension Publications. 187.
http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/extension_ag_pubs/187
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Humic and Fulvic Acids and Their Potential
in Crop Production
The use of soilborne compounds to protect seeds
and enhance seedling growth is being
investigated globally. Humic and fulvic acids are
commonly used in organic crop production,
greenhouse cropping of vegetables, and in
horticultural programs. They also may have uses
in Iowa’s large-scale production systems to
improve seedling health and plant response to
stress.
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grown in a nutrient solution containing humic Understanding humic substances and the way
acids. Similar results were reported on tobacco they influence plant growth and development
roots (3). and nutrient uptake is crucial to developing
sustainable cropping systems that improve
Root proliferation is a benefit from applications overall soil quality. Although humic substances
of humic and fulvic acids at low concentrations. are currently widely used in organic production
These stimulatory effects also have been directly systems, they may have uses in Iowa’s large-
correlated with enhanced uptake of nitrogen, scale production systems to improve seedling
phosphorus, sulfur, zinc, and iron (4). health. Stimulation of root growth may improve
plant resistance to disease, and plant response to
However, use of these compounds at high
feeding by herbivores and nematodes, and water
concentrations also has been shown to decrease
stress caused by drought.
root and shoot growth (2,3,4,5). The source of
the humic acid substances and the REFERENCES
concentrations used in treatments are not
uniform among experiments so few conclusions 1. Hartwigsen, J.A. and M.R. Evans. 2000. Humic
can be drawn from these studies. Hartwigsen acid seed and substrate treatments promote
seedling root development. HortScience,
and Evans (1) reported an increase in root fresh
35(7):1231-1233.
weight of horticultural crops when 2500 ppm
humic acid was used while Lee and Bartlett (2) 2. Lee, Y.S. and R.J. Bartlett. 1976. Stimulation of
plant growth by humic substances. Soil Science
reported the optimum concentration for corn was
Society of America Journal, 40:876-879.
5 ppm humic acid.
3. Mylonas, V.A. and C.B. McCants. 1980a.
CONCLUSIONS Effects of humic and fulvic acids on growth of
tobacco. Plant and Soil, 54: 485-490.
Many positive effects of humic substances such 4. Mylonas, V.A. and C.B. McCants. 1980b.
as humic and fulvic acids on plant growth and Effects of humic and fulvic acids on growth of
development have been reported but their effects tobacco 2. Tobacco growth and ion uptake.
appear to be dependent on several chemical and Journal of Plant Nutrition, 2: 377-393.
soil factors. In leguminous crops such as 5. Tan, K.H. and D. Tantiwiramanond. 1983. Effect
soybean, humic acid applications reduced of humic acids on nodulation and dry matter
production of soybean peanut, and clover. Soil
nodule number but remaining nodules were
Science Society of America Journal, 47:1121-
larger in size. At low concentrations, humic acid 1124.
increased vegetative growth of soybean and corn
in laboratory trials.
Prepared by David Wright and Andy Lenssen, Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University.
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of
Agriculture. Cathann A. Kress, director, Cooperative Extension and Outreach, Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Ames,
Iowa.
© 2013 by Iowa State University of Science and Technology. All rights reserved.
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